Construction and Building Materials 246 (2020) 118501

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Construction and Building Materials

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/conbuildmat

Investigation of ultraviolet radiation aging gradient in asphalt binder

Zihao Chen a, Henglong Zhang a,b,c,⇑, Haihui Duan a
a
Key Laboratory for Green & Advanced Civil Engineering Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province, College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha
410082, China
b
Key Laboratory of Special Environment Road Engineering of Hunan Province, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, Hunan, China
c
Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Center for Construction Solid Wastes Recycling, Hunan Yunzhong Recycling Technology Co., Ltd, Changsha 410205, China

h i g h l i g h t s

The UV aging depth can exceed 2 mm after 15-day UV aging period.

Gradients of molecular size and oxidation product content exist in UV aged samples.

The cause of UV aging gradient can be disclosed by ‘‘diffusion aging model”.

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The phenomenon of ultraviolet (UV) radiation aging gradient in asphalt binder is existent but usually
Received 7 October 2019 neglected in most of UV radiation aging simulations and real asphalt pavement. Therefore, it is necessary
Received in revised form 21 December 2019 to investigate the developing velocity and causing mechanism of UV aging gradient in asphalt binder. In
Accepted 17 February 2020
this paper, the 3 mm-thickness asphalt films that suffered different UV radiation aging periods were
Available online 25 February 2020
divided into average three layers by peeling procedures. Then, rheological properties, molecular sizes dis-
tributions, chemical functional groups contents and fluorescence tests were conducted on different
Keywords:
asphalt layers. The results indicate that by rheological indexes, the effect of 6-day UV aging is almost neg-
Asphalt binder
Ultraviolet radiation aging
ligible, but the UV aging depth can exceed 1 mm after 9-day UV aging period and further exceed 2 mm
Aging gradient after 15-day UV aging period. In addition, the vertical gradients of molecular sizes and oxidation products
Rheological indexes contents tend to form in asphalt film as UV aging process proceeds. Moreover, the observation of inor-
Diffusion aging model ganic fluorescent powders being able to permeate into fresh asphalt film in lower layers by fluorescence
microscope objectively demonstrates the ‘‘diffusion aging model” ─ UV aged asphalt molecules diffuse
downwards into fresh asphalt film in lower layer.
Ó 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction According to causing factors, aging types of asphalt binder are

The asphalt pavement is a dominant option in pavement design
due to its distinct advantages in driving comfort, low noise, short
period required to open traffic and convenience for maintenance
and rehabilitation [1–3]. Nevertheless, as a typical organic adhe-
sive material that is susceptible to heat, oxygen and sunlight influ-
ences, asphalt binders are easily subjected to aging during
pavement construction and service, which poses many aging-
related distresses and seriously compromises the lifespan of
asphalt pavement [4,5].
⇑ Corresponding author at: Key Laboratory for Green & Advanced Civil Engineer-
ing Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province, College of Civil
Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China.
E-mail address: hlzhang@hnu.edu.cn (H. Zhang).
usually sorted into two kinds: thermal-oxidation and photo-
oxidation aging [6]. Simulation methods in laboratory for
thermal-oxidation aging have been standardized by rolling thin
film oven test (RTFOT), thin film oven test (TFOT) and pressure
aging vessel (PAV) test, while there is no consensus that has been
reached on laboratory simulation method for photo-oxidation
aging [7,8]. Photo-oxidation aging of asphalt binder is mainly
attributed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation with waveband from 290
to 400 nm within sunlight [1]. Asphalt molecules are excited by
absorbing the ultraviolet energy and then the photochemical reac-
tion is induced to take place, which can give rise to an increase in
stiffness and embrittlement of asphalt binder and thus cause
cracking distress of pavement [9–11]. With UV radiation penetrat-
ing through air voids or microcracks in asphalt mixture, the pave-
ment depth that is influenced by UV radiation can gradually reach
10 mm [12]. The harmful effects of UV radiation aging are

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.118501
0950-0618/Ó 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
2 Z. Chen et al. / Construction and Building Materials 246 (2020) 118501

particularly remarkable in high altitude and adequate illumination

areas. Until now, there have been many researches on asphalt UV
radiation aging. Besides investigation of UV radiation effects on
asphalt materials performance and development of effective UV
radiation aging resistant agents [13–16], researches that focus on
UV radiation aging depth have also gained increasing attention.
The effects of UV radiation aging are largely dependent on
depth of asphalt film. This is because the asphalt film thickness
that the UV radiation can penetrate through is limited. If the
thickness of asphalt film is relatively larger than the depth that
UV radiation can penetrate, there are disparities of UV aging
degree in different layers of asphalt film. The deeper asphalt film
layer suffers the less influence caused by UV radiation. This phe-
nomenon can be called UV aging gradient. Zeng et al. [17] found
that although the UV radiation can only penetrate through about
Fig. 1. The image of inorganic fluorescent powders.
4.5 lm-thickness asphalt film, the UV aging depth in asphalt
binder gradually expands with the increment of UV aging time
and is deeper than 2 mm after 10-day UV aging. They explained 2.2. UV aging procedures
this phenomenon by proposing a ‘‘diffusion aging model”
hypothesis ─ UV aged asphalt molecules will diffuse downwards An iron hoop with internal diameter of 13 mm and thickness of
into fresh asphalt film in lower layer [17]. Currently, due to the 3 mm was horizontally placed on iron foundation. Then a certain
UV aging samples whose thicknesses are often selected within amount of molten asphalt was poured into the space surrounded
the range from 1 to 3 mm, the phenomenon of UV aging gradi- by iron hoop and iron foundation. After cooling, the redundant
ent exists but is usually neglected in most of UV radiation aging asphalt on the surface was removed by scraping knife and an
simulations [18–23]. In addition, although asphalt films coated asphalt film with thickness of 3 mm was formed, as shown in
on aggregates are just 5–15 lm thick [10], the path of continu- Fig. 2. Then aging samples were put into UV aging vessel equipped
ous asphalt matrix in asphalt mixture substantially exceeds this with a mercury lamp whose radiation wavelength is 365 nm. The
value in the vertical direction. It means that there is also a UV intensity in aging vessel is 8 w/m2. And the aging temperature
vertical UV aging gradient of binder in real asphalt pavement. was controlled at 50 °C at which the heat influence on UV aging can
So understanding UV aging gradient in asphalt binder more be avoided [7]. Aging periods were 0, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days.
clearly is not only conducive to estimating the downward
expanding velocity of UV radiation aging along asphalt binder
2.3. Peeling procedures
depth and guiding the design of asphalt film thickness in labora-
tory UV aging simulations, but also beneficial to more correctly
As mentioned above, the thickness of UV aged asphalt film was
evaluating the real effects of UV radiation aging on properties
set as 3 mm in this research. This is because the 3 mm-thickness
of asphalt binder.
asphalt film is usually used in many UV aging researches but the
In this paper, after different UV aging periods, the developing
phenomenon of UV aging gradient in these researches is often
velocity of UV aging gradient in asphalt binder with thickness of
neglected. In addition, choosing a 3 mm-thickness asphalt film is
3 mm was investigated by rheological indexes including complex
convenient for peeling asphalt film off layer by layer and the
modulus, phase angle, zero shear viscosity (ZSV), non-recoverable
amount of stripped asphalt in every layer is sufficient to conduct
creep compliance (Jnr), DSR function (DSRFn) and crossover fre-
rheological and other experiments. In order to investigate the UV
quency (xc) values. And then the causing mechanism of UV aging
aging gradient phenomenon, the 3 mm-thickness asphalt film
gradient was analyzed in terms of molecular size distributions and
was divided into three layers (the top, middle and bottom layers
chemical functional groups contents. Further, the ‘‘diffusion aging
or layer 1, layer 2 and layer 3) and the thickness of asphalt film
model” proposed for UV aging gradient was objectively demon-
in every layer was 1 mm. The specific peeling procedures in this
strated by specially designed fluorescence microscope test.
research are presented in Fig. 3. The principle of peeling mainly lies
in the difference of height between asphalt film and iron hoop. For
2. Materials and methods example, when the top 1 mm-thickness asphalt layer is needed, the
3 mm-thickness asphalt film is surrounded by 2 mm-thickness iron
2.1. Materials hoop and then the redundant asphalt layer on the top is removed
by scraping knife, as shown in Fig. 3(b). By analogy, the middle
Base asphalt used in this research was 60/80 pen grade asphalt and bottom 1 mm-thickness asphalt layers can be also obtained
whose basic properties are illustrated in Table 1. Inorganic fluores- by this method. Iron hoops with different thicknesses are illus-
cent powders with size of 1–10 lm were utilized as tracer to trated in Fig. 3(d). It should be noted that before changing another
demonstrate the downward diffusion of aged asphalt molecules. iron hoop to surround the asphalt film, the asphalt film needs to be
The image of inorganic fluorescent powders is shown in Fig. 1. cooled down to avoid being out of shape.

Table 1
Basic properties of base asphalt.

Basic properties Measured values

Penetration (25 °C, dmm) 74
Softening point (°C) 44.7
Ductility (15 °C, cm) >150
Viscosity (135 °C, mPas) 428.7
Fig. 2. The diagram of UV aging sample.
 Z. Chen et al. / Construction and Building Materials 246 (2020) 118501 3

Fig. 3. The diagram of peeling procedures.

2.4. Rheological test 2.5. Gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) test

Frequency sweep tests from 0.1 to 100 rad/s were performed Based on principle of GPC test, asphalt molecules with different
by dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) in strain-controlled mode. sizes can be sequentially separated with the elution time increas-
The sweep temperatures were controlled at 60 °C and 5 °C ing. Specifically, molecules with larger molecular size are eluted
respectively, and the 25 mm spindle and 8 mm spindle were cor- out earlier. In order to quantitatively describe the asphalt molecu-
respondingly selected [24]. Based on amplitude sweep results, 1% lar size distributions, the chromatographic profile is divided into
strain amplitude was chosen to make asphalt rheological behav- average 13 slices in terms of elution time, as illustrated in Fig. 4.
ior within linear viscoelastic (LVE) range. Values of complex mod- The ratio value of integral area of chromatographic curve within
ulus at 60 °C and phase angle at 5 °C were collected from 1–5 slices to whole integral area within 1–13 slices is defined as
frequency sweep to evaluate rheological properties at different large molecular size (LMS) that indicates the proportion of mole-
temperatures. cules with large size. By analogy, the ratio values of integral areas
It is known that zero shear viscosity (ZSV) is an indicator that within 6–9 slices and 10–13 slices to whole integral area corre-
can be used to evaluate the high-temperature rutting resistance spond to medium molecular size (MMS) and small molecular size
of asphalt binder [25,26]. The value of ZSV at 60 °C can be calcu- (SMS), respectively [34–36].
lated by fitting the complex viscosity versus frequency curve with
simplified Cross model [5]. In addition, multiple stress creep recov-
ery (MSCR) tests at 60 °C were conducted in accordance with ASTM 2.6. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) test
D7405, and non-recoverable creep compliance (Jnr) values at differ-
ent stress levels (0.1 and 3.2 kPa) were calculated to evaluate the It is demonstrated that carbonyl and sulfoxide groups are main
asphalt rutting resistance as well [27,28]. oxidation products of asphalt binder [37–39]. Thus, the UV aging
The DSR function (DSRFn) index has been demonstrated to
correlate well with cracking resistance of asphalt pavement
[29–31]. Its definition is shown as formula (1). It is a calculated
value at a specific time–temperature condition ─ the tempera-
ture of 15 °C and the frequency of 0.005 rad/s. The specific calcu-
lation procedures of DSRFn index can be referred to previously
published papers [5]. The crossover frequency (xc) is the value
at which the storage modulus is equal to the loss modulus or
the phase angle is equal to 45° during frequency sweep. xc can
reflect the overall hardness of asphalt binder, and the smaller
xc at low temperatures manifests the more brittle asphalt binder
[32,33]. In this paper, xc values were obtained from frequency
sweep at 5 °C.

G0
DSRFn ¼
g0  ð1Þ
G0

where

G0 = storage modulus (Pa);

g0 = storage dynamic viscosity (Pas). Fig. 4. The diagram of classic three-part division method for GPC curve.
4 Z. Chen et al. / Construction and Building Materials 246 (2020) 118501

degree of different asphalt layers can be evaluated by contents of The scanning spectra from 400 to 4000 cm1 were recorded
these functional groups. Carbonyl and sulfoxide indexes are with a resolution of 4 cm1 and scanning times of 32.
defined by formula (2) and (3), respectively.
2.7. Fluorescence test
A1700
CI ¼ P ð2Þ
A In order to demonstrate the ‘‘diffusion aging model”, inorganic
fluorescent powders with size of 1–10 lm were utilized as tracer
A1030 to be added into the top 1 mm-thickness asphalt layer, as shown
SI ¼ P ð3Þ
A in Fig. 5. After 15-day UV aging period, the middle and bottom
asphalt layers were observed by two-photon confocal microscopy
P
where A is equal to total areas of peaks centered around with 60 times objective lens to detect whether fluorescence reac-
1700 cm1, 1600 cm1, 1460 cm1, 1376 cm1, 1030 cm1, tion can occur. As control sample, the un-UV aged 3 mm-
864 cm1, 814 cm1, 743 cm1, 724 cm1. A1700 and A1030 corre- thickness asphalt film whose top layer also contained inorganic
spond to characteristic peak areas of carbonyl and sulfoxide groups, fluorescent powders was stored at 50 °C for 15 days to prove
respectively. whether fluorescent powders will diffuse downwards without UV
radiation influence. Three replicates were used for each asphalt
sample in fluorescence test.

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Rheological indexes

3.1.1. Complex modulus and phase angle

The complex modulus is a paramount rheological index that
Fig. 5. The verification method for ‘‘diffusion aging model”. can reflect the total resistance of asphalt binder against shear

Fig. 6. Complex moduli at 60 °C for different layers in UV aged asphalt samples that suffer different UV aging periods: (a) UV aging 6 days, (b) UV aging 9 days, (c) UV aging
12 days, and (d) UV aging 15 days.
 Z. Chen et al. / Construction and Building Materials 246 (2020) 118501
deformation. Generally, the stiffer asphalt binder exhibits the lar-
ger complex modulus. Fig. 6 presents complex moduli at 60 °C
for different layers in UV aged asphalt samples that suffer different
UV aging periods. It can be seen in Fig. 6(a) that when the UV aging
period lasts only 6 days, there are almost no obvious differences of
complex moduli among the top, middle and bottom asphalt layers,
and complex moduli of these layers are all similar to value of orig-
inal sample. It is suggested that the effects of 6-day UV radiation
aging do not cause the gradient of rheological properties in
3 mm-thickness asphalt film. After UV radiation aging 9 days, com-
plex moduli of the top and middle asphalt layers start to increase,
especially for the top asphalt layer. But the complex modulus of
bottom asphalt layer is still not remarkably different from value
of original asphalt binder, illustrating the depth influenced by UV
radiation aging is only within 2 mm. The effects of 12-day UV radi-
ation aging only further raise the complex moduli of the top and
middle asphalt layers, but the bottom asphalt layer is not yet influ-
enced by UV radiation aging, as shown in Fig. 6(c). Until UV radia-
tion aging time extends to 15 days, complex moduli of the top,
middle and bottom asphalt layers are all larger than that of original
asphalt binder, and from bottom layer to top layer, the value of
complex modulus gradually increases. These demonstrate that
the depth influenced by UV radiation aging exceeds 2 mm when
Fig. 7. Phase angle values at 5 °C for different layers in UV aged asphalt samples that suffer different UV aging periods: (a) UV aging 6 days, (b) UV aging 9 days, (c) UV aging
12 days, and (d) UV aging 15 days.
5
the UV radiation aging time lasts 15 days, and there is an obvious
vertical gradient of rheological properties in 3 mm-thickness
asphalt film at this time. Based on above results, it can be con-
cluded that the UV aging depth gradually expands downwards as
the UV aging time increases.
The asphalt binder is a viscoelastic material, and the index of
phase angle can reflect the proportion of viscous component to
elastic component. At low temperatures, the asphalt binder with
the larger phase angle possesses the stronger viscous mobility
and more potential to resist the cracking damage. Phase angle val-
ues at 5 °C for different layers in UV aged asphalt samples that suf-
fer different UV aging periods are shown in Fig. 7. It is interesting
that the evolutions of UV aging depth in asphalt binder reflected by
phase angle are entirely consistent with results obtained from
complex modulus. In addition, with the aging time increasing,
the phase angle value of the same asphalt layer gradually
decreases, which indicates the UV aging increases the elastic
response of asphalt binder and makes it stiffer and more brittle.
3.1.2. ZSV and Jnr
The UV aging destructs the balance of asphalt colloidal struc-
ture by changing the chemical components of asphalt binder,
6 Z. Chen et al. / Construction and Building Materials 246 (2020) 118501

Fig. 10. DSRFn values of different layers in UV aged asphalt samples that suffer
Fig. 8. ZSV values of different layers in UV aged asphalt samples that suffer
different UV aging periods.
different UV aging periods.

3.1.3. DSRFn and crossover frequency (xc)

Due to the increase in stiffness and embrittlement, UV aged
which results in decline of solubility of oil to micelles and causes
asphalt binders are easily subjected to cracking. DSRFn and cross-
the condensation and flocculation of asphaltenes [12]. This is the
over frequency (xc) are able to function as brittleness indexes, both
underlying reason why the asphalt binder stiffens after UV radia-
of which have a tight correlation with aging degree [5,16]. DSRFn
tion aging.
ZSV has a positive correlation with stiffness of asphalt binder,
functioning as a good predictor for rutting resistance of asphalt
mixture. ZSV values of different layers in UV aged asphalt samples
that suffer different UV aging periods are shown in Fig. 8. The
effects of 6-day UV radiation aging on asphalt film are negligible,
because even the ZSV of the top asphalt layer is also very close
to that of original sample. When the UV aging period lasts 9–
12 days, the top and middle asphalt layers are influenced by UV
radiation aging. Not until the UV aging period extends to 15 days
can the bottom asphalt layer be distinctly influenced.
It is acknowledged that the aging can give rise to an increase in
rutting resistance of asphalt binder. Therefore, the smaller Jnr indi-
cates the more serious asphalt aging degree. Jnr values of different
layers in UV aged asphalt samples that suffer different UV aging
periods are presented in Fig. 9. Similarly, based on Jnr results
obtained from MSCR tests, it also can be concluded that the obvi-
ous phenomenon of UV aging gradient begins to occur after 9-
day UV aging period, and the aging degree of all asphalt layers
gradually deepens as the UV aging period extends. Fig. 11. Crossover frequency values of different layers in UV aged asphalt samples
that suffer different UV aging periods.

Fig. 9. Jnr values of different layers in UV aged asphalt samples that suffer different UV aging periods: (a) Jnr at 0.1 kPa and (b) Jnr at 3.2 kPa.
 Z. Chen et al. / Construction and Building Materials 246 (2020) 118501 7

and xc values of different layers in UV aged asphalt samples that sizes will change from smaller ones towards larger ones as aging
suffer different UV aging periods are illustrated in Figs. 10 and processes proceed [34–36].
11, respectively. The results reflected by DSRFn and xc are almost The results of molecular size distributions in different layers of
entirely consistent with those reflected by complex modulus, 15-day UV aged asphalt sample are presented in Table 2. Compared
phase angle, ZSV and Jnr. It is demonstrated that the UV aging with original sample, the 15-day UV aged asphalt sample exhibits
can cause a gradient distribution of brittleness in asphalt films. larger LMS and smaller SMS values no matter what asphalt layer is.
This means every asphalt layer is influenced after 15-day UV aging
3.2. Analyses by GPC period, which is consistent with results reflected by rheological
indexes. In addition, as the vertical position of asphalt layer deep-
The change of chemical components is one of the characteristics ens, the LMS value gradually declines but the SMS value displays a
during aging processes of asphalt binder. Generally, the proportion contrary trend, demonstrating the existence of vertical gradient of
of light components with small molecular sizes is decreased while molecular size distributions in 3-mm thickness asphalt film after
the share of heavy components with large molecular sizes is 15-day UV aging period.
increased due to the volatilization and association reactions. Corre- The UV radiation can only penetrate through about 4.5 lm-
spondingly, in terms of molecular size distributions, molecular thickness asphalt film. In another words, merely the 4.5 lm-
thickness asphalt film can be directly influenced by UV radiation
Table 2 [17]. However, it is investigated that with the aging period extend-
The results of molecular size distributions. ing, the UV radiation aging depth is able to greatly exceed this
value to a few millimeters or even more. Zeng et al. [17] explained
Asphalt binders LMS (%) MMS (%) SMS (%)
that UV aged asphalt molecules with relatively large sizes diffuse
Origin 15.75 61.84 22.41
downwards into fresh asphalt film in lower layer, which conse-
15–1 17.48 64.70 17.82
15–2 16.49 61.70 21.81 quently makes the UV aging depth in asphalt binder gradually
15–3 16.05 61.70 22.25 expand downwards with the increment of UV aging time. The exis-
tence of vertical gradient of molecular size distributions in asphalt
film, as shown in Table 2, can give an evidence to support the dif-
fusion hypothesis proposed by Zeng et al.

3.3. Analyses by FTIR

As shown in Fig. 12, the characteristic peaks centered around

1030 cm1 and 1700 cm1 are respectively associated with sulfox-
ide and carbonyl functional groups, both of which are main oxida-
tion products of asphalt binder. In order to quantify the contents of
two functional groups in different asphalt layers, sulfoxide and car-
bonyl indexes are defined and presented in Fig. 13. It can be seen
that the contents of oxidation products in every asphalt layer are
all larger than those of original sample, which indicates that the
aging depth exceeds 2 mm after 15-day UV aging period. And the
content gradient of oxidation products in asphalt film further illus-
trates the idea that aged asphalt molecules will diffuse downwards
during UV aging process.

3.4. Analyses by fluorescence test

Fig. 12. The results of FTIR spectra of different layers in 15-day UV aged asphalt In order to describe the downward diffusion phenomenon of UV
sample. aged asphalt molecules more objectively, the fluorescence test is

Fig. 13. The results of functional group index of different layers in 15-day UV aged asphalt sample: (a) sulfoxide index, and (b) carbonyl index.
8 Z. Chen et al. / Construction and Building Materials 246 (2020) 118501
Fig. 14. The results of fluorescence test in different asphalt layers of control sample and 15-day UV aged sample.
designed and detailed in Section 2.7. The results of fluorescence
test in different asphalt layers of control sample and 15-day UV
aged sample are shown in Fig. 14. As for control sample, the fluo-
rescence reaction is not observed in the middle and bottom asphalt
layers, except for the top asphalt layer. This indicates that inor-
ganic fluorescent powders cannot diffuse downwards into lower
asphalt layers without UV radiation influence. By contrast, the flu-
orescence reaction is observed in both the middle and bottom
asphalt layers for 15-day UV aged sample, which verifies inorganic
fluorescent powders can permeate into fresh asphalt film in lower
layers with the downward diffusion of UV aged asphalt molecules.
The demonstrated ‘‘diffusion aging model” can in turn well explain
why there are vertical gradients of rheological, molecular sizes and
chemical properties in asphalt film after a certain UV aging period.
4. Conclusions
In this paper, the phenomenon of ultraviolet radiation aging
gradient in asphalt film with 3 mm thickness was investigated
by rheological properties, molecular size distributions, chemical
functional groups contents and fluorescence tests. The detailed
conclusions can be drawn as follows:

By complex modulus, phase angle, ZSV, Jnr, DSRFn and xc
indexes, it can be concluded that the effect of 6-day UV aging
is almost negligible, but the UV aging depth can exceed 1 mm
after 9-day UV aging period and further exceed 2 mm after
15-day UV aging period.

The GPC results indicate that a vertical gradient of molecular
sizes tends to form in asphalt film during UV aging process.
Along the depth in asphalt film, the proportion of large mole-
cules gradually declines while the proportion of small mole-
cules increases.

There are also content gradients of oxidation products in UV
aged asphalt film, indicating disparities of aging degree in dif-
ferent asphalt layers.

The observation of inorganic fluorescent powders being able to
permeate into fresh asphalt film in lower layers by fluorescence
microscope objectively demonstrates the ‘‘diffusion aging
model”.
5. Recommendations for future work
This paper only considered the UV aging gradient phenomenon
under the pure UV aging. In future work, we will investigate the UV
aging gradient in short-term aged asphalt binders, and evaluate the
effects of thermal aging on UV aging gradient by comparing the dif-
ferences in results of aging gradient between the pure UV aging
and the joint action of both UV and thermal aging. In addition,
because there are differences between outdoor natural weathering
aging and indoor UV aging simulations, it is necessary to further
investigate the gradient phenomenon under natural weathering
aging influences. Further, the phenomenon of aging gradient in
asphalt mixtures also needs to be investigated in future work.
CRediT authorship contribution statement
Zihao Chen: Data curation, Writing - original draft. Henglong
Zhang: Data curation, Writing - original draft. Haihui Duan: Data
curation, Writing - original draft.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing finan-
cial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared
to influence the work reported in this paper.
 Z. Chen et al. / Construction and Building Materials 246 (2020) 118501
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by the Huxiang Youth Talent Program
of Hunan Province (No. 2019RS2052), the Transportation Science
and Technology Development and Innovation Project of Hunan
Province (No. 201805), Open Fund of Key Laboratory of Special
Environment Road Engineering of Hunan Province (Changsha
University of Science & Technology, No. kfj180501), the Science
and Technology Planning Project of Changsha (No. kc1703038).
The authors gratefully acknowledge their financial support.
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